*Footage by Kenny Howell & photos by Susan Koutalakis

It seems like yesterday that I was wide-eyed high school student going to the Providence Civic Center to see a sold-out RATT show with 15, 000 other rodents. If you told me then that RATTs’ lead singer STEPHEN PEARCY would be playing a bar walking distance from my home 23  years later, I would have bet you my Circus magazine subscription that it would never happen.

Well, it did happen, and there I was Thursday night  with a mostly 35+year old  crowd only this time instead of worrying about passing my math test the next day I was worrying  if I would look hung-over for my morning meeting.

Classic metal shows are always an excellent bang for the buck because the band is drawing on years of a critic- and fan-vetted catalog, so you’re guaranteed to know at least 90 percent of the songs played.

Be it the adrenaline rush of “Body Talk,” the butane burning of “Back For More” or the Sunset Stripper strut of “Lovin’  You’s a Dirty Job,” PEARCY delivered with his signature gruff voice unabashed energy and a platinum parade of hits. His band, the RAT BASTARDS include members of  W.A.S.P. and PAPA ROACH.

After a resilient performance and a night of solid reminders of what made attending concerts as a kid so electrifying and stimulating, I walked away wishing it could be 1986 for a couple more hours.

SETLIST:

• Body Talk
• Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job
• Back For More
• Round & Round
• Breaking The Law
• Under My Skin
• Lack of Communication
• Lay It Down
• Nothin’ To Lose
• You’re In Love

For more information visit STEPHEN PEARCY

For more footage visit YOUTUBE